Rolling and Flipping Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A remotely controlled four-wheeled toy vehicle has first and second parallel rotational axes with a first pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the first rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, and a second pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the second rotational axis in first and second opposing directions. Each of the wheels has a circular periphery and a flap disposable in inboard and outboard positions. A remote control causes rotation of the first and/or second pairs, together or independently. The flaps are all disposed substantially on or within the circular peripheries of their associated wheels during their inboard positions and all extend external to the circular peripheries during their outboard positions. Each flap is disposed in its inboard position allowing its associated wheel to roll along a support surface in one of the first and second directions and is disposed in its outboard position denying its associated wheel to roll along the support surface in the other direction to cause the vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to wheeled vehicles. Particularly, the invention is related to wheeled toy vehicles. More particularly, the invention is related to remotely-controlled wheeled toy vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Remotely controlled toy vehicles are well known and commonly used for entertainment. Typically, such toys have wheels, some or all of which are remotely controllable to roll in a forward direction at the command of the user. Less typically, the wheels are also controllable to roll in a backward direction and/or to be turned for steering the vehicle.

There are presently no convenient, economical, and simple means for causing a remotely controlled toy vehicle to flip over to reverse its direction from forward to backward, and such is a feature and an object of the present invention.

There are presently no convenient, economical, and simple means for causing a remotely controlled toy vehicle to flip over to reverse its direction from backward to forward, and such is a feature and an object of the present invention.

There are presently no convenient, economical, and simple means for causing a remotely controlled toy vehicle to selectively flip over to reverse its direction from forward to backward or from backward to forward, and such is a feature and an object of the present invention.

Further features and objects of the invention will become apparent upon review of the disclosure of various exemplary embodiments provided herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be embodied in a remotely controlled four-wheeled toy vehicle having first and second parallel rotational axes with a first pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the first rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, and a second pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the second rotational axis in first and second opposing directions. Each of the wheels may have a circular periphery and a flap disposable in inboard and outboard positions. A remote control may cause rotation of the first and/or second pairs, together or independently. The flaps may all be disposed substantially on or within the circular peripheries of their associated wheels during their inboard positions and may all extend external to the circular peripheries during their outboard positions. Each flap may be disposed in its inboard position allowing its associated wheel to roll along a support surface in one of the first and second directions and may be disposed in its outboard position denying its associated wheel to roll along the support surface in the other direction to cause the vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

In use, a remote control may be used to cause the rotations of one or more of the vehicle's wheels in a first direction, wherein the flap affixed to that wheel is disposed in its inboard position, allowing the wheel to roll along the support surface, and the remote control may be used to cause the rotations of one or more of the vehicle's wheels in a second direction opposite to said first direction, wherein the flap becomes disposed into its outboard position, denying the wheel to roll along the support surface.

Centrifugal force may be employed to cause the flaps to become disposed into their outboard positions during rotation in the second direction. The rotation of the wheels in said second direction and the denials of those wheels to roll along the support surface may cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings showing an exemplary embodiment there-of. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a four-wheeled toy vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 upside-down after being flipped over and being remotely controlled by a user;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a wheel of the vehicle of FIG. 3 rolling in the forward direction with its flap in its inboard position;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the wheel of FIG. 4A rolling further in the forward direction with its flap in its inboard position;

FIG. 5A is a side view of the wheel of FIG. 4A rolling in the backward direction with its flap moving towards its outboard position;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the wheel of FIG. 5A rolling further in the backward direction with its flap in its outboard position;

FIG. 6A is a sectional side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 2 showing the denial of rolling caused by the flaps being in their outboard positions; and

FIG. 6B is a sectional side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 2 showing the flipping of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 through 3, where there is shown a remotely controlled four-wheeled toy vehicle 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Chassis 102 encases a first unseen motor for causing the rotation of front wheels 104LF and 104RF about front axis 106, and a second unseen motor for causing the rotation of rear wheels 104LR and 104RR about rear axis 108. Chassis 102 further encases an unseen steering control mechanism for causing the turning of front wheels 104LF and 104RF to steer the vehicle, and an unseen receiver for accepting commands from remote control 112 and converting those commands into signals to cause the aforesaid wheel rotations and turnings.

In FIG. 3, vehicle 100 has been flipped over and is shown upside-down, hence wheels 104LF has swapped positions with wheel 104RF, wheel 104RF has swapped positions with wheel 104RR, and the straps 128 of flaps 122 are facing upward. While the vehicle in its upright position of FIGS. 1 and 2 will flip over when attempting to move forward, the vehicle in its upside-down position of FIG. 3 will flip over when attempting to move backward.

Referring next to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the forward rotation of wheel 104, being representative of any one of wheels 104LF, 104RF, 104LR, or 104RR, is shown. Wheel 104 has a circular outer periphery 120 for rolling along support surface 200 as the wheel rotates. Flap 122 is affixed at its inboard end 124 to wheel 104 within peripheral pocket 126. The flap includes flexible strap 128, foot 130, and vertebrae 132A and 132B. Strap 128 is preferably made of a fabric material, such as braided nylon. The strap is secured at its inboard end 124 into pocket 126 by rivets, gluing, post-forming, or any equivalent fastening means.

During the forward rotation of wheel 104, flexible strap 128 bends inwardly into pocket 126 so that the entire flap, including foot 130 lies within circular outer periphery 120. Wheel 104 is thusly able to roll smoothly along surface 200. Although the centrifugal force of the rotating wheel and the weight of the flap urges the flap to flex outwardly during forward rotation, the weight of the vehicle as it rolls along the floor is sufficient to maintain the flap in the shown inboard position as foot 130 crosses past the support surface as seen in FIG. 4B.

Referring next to FIGS. 5A and 5B the rearward rotation of wheel 104 is shown. Due to the flexibility of strap 128 and the centrifugal force caused by the rotating wheel, flap 122 pivots outwardly during rearward rotation and moves towards its outboard direction as seen in FIG. 5A.

Vertebrae 132A and 132B are preferably plastic bars adjacently affixed on the outboard side of strap 128. Inward flexing of strap 128 causes the vertebrae to separate from each other, so the vertebrae cause no interference to inward flexing of the flap. But outward flexing causes the vertebrae to approach each other and as the flap approaches its fully extended outboard position, vertebrae 132A and 132B come into contact with each other and deny further outboard flexing of the flap, thereby causing the stiffening of flap 122 against further outward flexing. As shown in FIG. 5B, flap 122 becomes a rigid member disposed tangential to circular outer periphery 120 and rests upon support surface 200, denying further rearward rotation of wheel 104.

FIG. 6A shows vehicle 100 with all wheels 104LF, 104RF, 104LR, and 104RR rotating in the rearward direction until each flap 122 rests against support surface 200, as in FIG. 5B, and with further relative rearward rotation of the wheel relative to the support surface denied. Further rotation of the wheels and thus be only relative to the chassis 102, and such further rotation causes the chassis to be moved relative to the support surface as seen in FIG. 6B. Such movement causes a flipping over of the entire vehicle and a reversal of its direction.

Chassis 102 is symmetrically configured so that its bottom side appears identical to its top side, so that not matter which way it is flipped, upside-down or right-side-up, it appears the same.

As may be appreciated, selective forward and rearward rotating of the forward and/or rearward wheels can create numerous playful and entertaining effects. The vehicle may be flipped about either its front or rear axis to reverse the vehicle's direction, or the vehicle can be caused to hop or lift off of the support surface by only partially rotating the wheels relative to the chassis after rolling is denied.

In, summary the present invention may be embodied as a wheeled vehicle having a rotational axis, a wheel having a circular periphery and disposed and rotational about the rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, and having a flap affixed to the wheel and disposable in inboard and outboard positions; the inboard position being on or within the circular periphery, and the outboard position extending external to the circular periphery. The flap is disposed in the inboard position allowing the wheel to roll along a support surface when the wheel rotates in the first direction, and is disposed in the outboard position denying the wheel to roll along the support surface when the wheel rotates in the second direction. The flap may be displaced from the inboard position to the outboard position by centrifugal force about the rotational axis during the rotation in the second direction.

The vehicle may further have a second wheel, displaced from and parallel to the first wheel and having a second circular periphery, with the second wheel disposed and rotational about the rotational axis in the first and second opposing directions. The second flap may be affixed to the second wheel and disposable in second inboard and outboard positions; with the second inboard position being on or within the second circular periphery, and the second outboard position extending external to the second circular periphery. The second flap may be disposed in the second inboard position allowing the second wheel to roll along the support surface when the second wheel rotates in the first direction; and may be disposed in the second outboard position denying the second wheel to roll along the support surface when the second wheel rotates in the second direction.

The denials of the first and second wheels to roll along the support surface may cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

The vehicle may further have a second rotational axis displaced from and parallel with the first rotational axis with a third wheel (or a pair or coaxial third and fourth wheels) having a third circular periphery and disposed and rotational about the second rotational axis in the first and second opposing directions. A third flap may be affixed to the third wheel and disposable in third inboard and outboard positions, with the third inboard position being on or within the third circular periphery and the third outboard position extending external to the third circular periphery. The third flap may be disposed in the third inboard position allowing the third wheel to roll along the support surface when the third wheel rotates in one of the first and second directions, may be disposed in the third outboard position denying the third wheel to roll along the support surface when the third wheel rotates in the other of the first and second directions.

The denial of the third wheel to roll along the support surface may cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

The vehicle may include a remote-control for causing the wheels to rotate in the first or second directions, and the remote control may be adapted to cause the rotations of the first and second wheels independently of the third wheel.

Each of the wheels may include a flap pivot axis disposed parallel to the rotational axis and adjacent to the circular periphery, and the associated flap may be disposed substantially along the circular periphery during the first position. The flap may pivot about the pivot axis from the inboard position to the outboard position and become substantially tangentially disposed relative to the circular periphery during the outboard position.

The inventions may also be embodied as a method of controlling the rolling of a wheeled vehicle along a support surface, including the steps of rotating a wheel having a circular periphery about a rotational axis in a first direction wherein a flap affixed to the wheel is disposed in an inboard position within the circular periphery and the wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface, and rotating the wheel about the rotational axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, wherein the flap becomes disposed into a outboard position extending external to the circular periphery and denying the wheel to roll along the support surface.

The method may include the employment of centrifugal force to cause the flap to become disposed into the outboard position during the rotation in the second direction.

The method may further include rotating a second wheel, displaced from and parallel to the first wheel and having a second circular periphery, about the rotational axis in the first direction wherein a second flap affixed to the second wheel is disposed in a second inboard position within the second circular periphery and the second wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface, and rotating the second wheel about the rotational axis in the second direction wherein the second flap becomes disposed into a second outboard position extending external to the second circular periphery and denying the second wheel to roll along the support surface.

The denials of the first and second wheels to roll along the support surface may cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

The method may further include rotating a third wheel having a third circular periphery and disposed and rotational about a second rotational axis displaced from and parallel with the first rotational axis in one of the first and second opposing directions wherein a third flap affixed to the third wheel is disposed in a third inboard position within the third circular periphery and the third wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface, and rotating the third wheel about the second rotational axis in the other of the first and second opposing directions wherein the third flap becomes disposed into a third outboard position extending external to the third circular periphery and denying the third wheel to roll along the support surface.

The denial of the third wheel to roll along the support surface may cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

The method may include employing a remote-control to cause the wheels to rotate in the first or second directions, and employing the remote control to cause the rotations of the first and second wheels independently of the third wheel.

More specifically, the invention may be preferably embodied as a remotely controlled four-wheeled toy vehicle having first and second parallel rotational axes with a first pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the first rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, and a second pair of wheels disposed and rotational about the second rotational axis in first and second opposing directions. Each of the wheels may have a circular periphery and a flap disposable in inboard and outboard positions. A remote control may cause rotation of the first and/or second pairs, together or independently. The flaps may all be disposed on or within the circular peripheries of their associated wheels during their inboard positions and all extend external to the circular peripheries during their outboard positions. Each flap may be disposed in its inboard position allowing its associated wheel to roll along a support surface in one of the first and second directions and may be disposed in its outboard position denying its associated wheel to roll along the support surface in the other direction to cause the vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled. 

1. A wheeled vehicle comprising: a rotational axis; a wheel having a circular periphery and disposed and rotational about said rotational axis in first and second opposing directions; a flap affixed to said wheel and disposable in inboard and outboard positions; said inboard position being on or within said circular periphery; and said outboard position extending external to said circular periphery; wherein said flap is disposed in said inboard position allowing said wheel to roll along a support surface when said wheel rotates in said first direction; and wherein said flap is disposed in said outboard position denying said wheel to roll along the support surface when said wheel rotates in said second direction.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said flap is displaced from said inboard position to said outboard position by centrifugal force about said rotational axis during said rotation in said second direction.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said wheel is a first wheel and said vehicle further comprises: a second wheel, displaced from and parallel to said first wheel and having a second circular periphery, said second wheel disposed and rotational about said rotational axis, in said first and second opposing directions; a second flap affixed to said second wheel and disposable in second inboard and outboard positions; said second inboard position being on or within said second circular periphery; and said second outboard position extending external to said second circular periphery; wherein said second flap is disposed in said second inboard position allowing said second wheel to roll along the support surface when said second wheel rotates in said first direction; and wherein said second flap is disposed in said second outboard position denying said second wheel to roll along the support surface when said second wheel rotates in said second direction.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said rotation of said first and second wheels in said second direction and said denials of said first and second wheels to roll along the support surface cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said rotational axis is a first rotational axis and said vehicle further comprises: a second rotational axis displaced from and parallel with said first rotational axis; a third wheel having a third circular periphery and disposed and rotational about said second rotational axis in said first and second opposing directions; a third flap affixed to said third wheel and disposable in third inboard and outboard positions; said third inboard position being on or within said third circular periphery; and said third outboard position extending external to said third circular periphery; wherein said third flap is disposed in said third inboard position allowing said third wheel to roll along the support surface when said third wheel rotates in one of said first and second directions; and wherein said third flap is disposed in said third outboard position denying said third wheel to roll along the support surface when said third wheel rotates in the other of said first and second directions.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said rotation of said third wheel in said other of said first and second directions and said denial of said third wheel to roll along the support surface cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a remote-control for causing said wheels to rotate in said first or second directions.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said remote control is adapted to cause said rotations of said first and second wheels independently of said third wheel.
 9. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: a flap pivot axis disposed parallel to said rotational axis and adjacent to said circular periphery; and wherein said flap is disposed substantially along said circular periphery during said first position; said flap pivots about said pivot axis from said inboard position to said outboard position; and said flap is substantially tangentially disposed relative to said circular periphery during said outboard position.
 10. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a remote-control for causing said wheel to rotate in said first or second directions.
 11. A method of controlling the rolling of a wheeled vehicle along a support surface comprising: rotating a wheel having a circular periphery about a rotational axis in a first direction wherein a flap affixed to said wheel is disposed in a inboard position within said circular periphery and said wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface; and rotating said wheel about said rotational axis in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, wherein said flap becomes disposed into a outboard position extending external to said circular periphery and denying said wheel to roll along the support surface.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: employing centrifugal force to cause said flap to become disposed into said outboard position during said rotation in said second direction.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said wheel is a first wheel and said method further comprises: rotating a second wheel, displaced from and parallel to said first wheel and having a second circular periphery, about said rotational axis in said first direction wherein a second flap affixed to said second wheel is disposed in a second inboard position within said second circular periphery and said second wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface; and rotating said second wheel about said rotational axis in said second direction wherein said second flap becomes disposed into a second outboard position extending external to said second circular periphery and denying said second wheel to roll along the support surface.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said rotation of said first and second wheels in said second direction and said denials of said first and second wheels to roll along the support surface cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said rotational axis is a first rotational axis and said method further comprises: rotating a third wheel having a third circular periphery and disposed and rotational about a second rotational axis displaced from and parallel with said first rotational axis in one of said first and second opposing directions wherein a third flap affixed to said third wheel is disposed in a third inboard position within said third circular periphery and said third wheel is thereby allowed to roll along the support surface; and rotating said third wheel about said second rotational axis in the other of said first and second opposing directions wherein said third flap becomes disposed into a third outboard position extending external to said third circular periphery and denying said third wheel to roll along the support surface.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said rotation of said third wheel in said other of said first and second directions and said denial of said third wheel to roll along the support surface cooperate to cause the wheeled vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: employing a remote-control to cause said wheels to rotate in said first or second directions.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising; employing said remote control to cause said rotations of said first and second wheels independently of said third wheel.
 19. The method of claim 11 further comprising: employing a remote-control to cause causing said wheel to rotate in said first or second directions.
 20. A remotely controlled four-wheeled toy vehicle comprising: first and second parallel rotational axes; a first pair of wheels disposed and rotational about said first rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, each of said first pair having a first circular periphery and a flap disposable in inboard and outboard positions; a second pair of wheels disposed and rotational about said second rotational axis in first and second opposing directions, each of said second pair having a second circular periphery and a flap disposable in inboard and outboard positions; a remote control for causing rotation of said first and second pairs in said first and second opposing directions, together or independently; wherein said flaps are all disposed on or within said circular peripheries of said associated wheels during said inboard positions and said flaps all extend external to said circular peripheries of said associated wheels during said outboard positions; and wherein each flap is disposed in its inboard position allowing said associated wheel to roll along a support surface when said associate wheel rotates in one of said first and second directions, and each flap is disposed in its outboard position denying said associated wheel to roll along the support surface when said associate wheel rotates in the other of said first and second directions to cause the vehicle to flip over relative to the support surface. 